Recross the Paths

Let's take it again from the top! This week, Wally walks us through Alpha Reimagined, his take on Magic's original set from a modern design sensibility. We also touch on his Unplayables Cube, a chance for forgotten cards to shine even though they couldn't in their own environments. We discuss pursuing nostalgia through play patterns over specific cards, the relationship between goals and implementation, letting your players feel like they've broken the game, and much more.

Alpha Reimagined on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/alpha-reimagined?view=primer

Unplayables Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/unplayables?view=primer

Wally on Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/machineschooling.bsky.social

Wally is MachineSchooling on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/MachineSchooling/

Wally is @machineschooling on DiscordEmail the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

Save the date: Garden State Cube - January 9-10, 2027 in Edison, NJ

https://sites.google.com/view/garden-state-cube/home

This week, Mike walks us through the inspiration and execution of BARTIFACT, a Green-less, artifact-themed bar cube with the most adorable mascot. We explore Mike's journey with this project from it's beginnings as a small head-to-head environment to it being one of the featured cubes at Boston Cube Party. We discuss the strengths and challenges of breaking singleton, whimsy in cube play and design, embracing heroes and villains in a cube, and much more.

BARTIFACT on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/87f695d4-ca23-4827-b4d2-b3db65c7fe35?view=primer

Mike on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/6019d60f832cdf1039899376

Mike on bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/djmikeysaxx.bsky.social

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

In cube, not everything is black and white... except in Dichotomy Cube. This week, Chris guides us through his stellar project about embracing conflict and creating stories - with the help of appropriately colored sleeves of course. We discuss the joy in so many aspects of Magic, cube's strengths as a casual format, a thoughtful exercise for designing cubes, and much more.

Dichotomy Cube on CubeCobra (be sure to check out the visual spoiler sorted by tags!): https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/dichotomycube?view=mainboard&s1=Tags&display=spoiler

Omen Machine on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/ecb0c43e-bfdf-4ab3-8724-b014cee0f265?view=primer

Chris on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5f303c917649e8102a6c806b

Chris is @_mendicant on Discord

If you're inspired to try starting a design from a random set of 360 cards, https://coglib.sosk.watch/ has you covered! There's lots under the hood of this amazing tool. Thanks Jawn.snow!

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Patrick takes us behind the velvet rope to explore the Million Dollar Cube. This high-octane environment aims to emulate constructed vintage and push the limits of what a powered cube can be. Patrick shares from his experience as a champion of Washington Cube Champs, California Cube Champs, and a multi-time Pro Tour competitor. We discuss setting (and breaking) rules for yourself, tips for promoting 2-color mana bases, making sure cards have multiple homes in your cube, and much more.

Million Dollar Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/Million%20Dollar%20Cube?view=primer

See more of Patrick's cubes on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5e2b53393e1bce2f442e3953

Patrick is Soreiha on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Soreiha

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

Class is in session! This week, Mark gives us the overview for Strixhaven Study Abroad, an alternate take on the Strixhaven limited environment where students explore ally-pair archetypes from planes across the multiverse. We discuss building on Lesson and Learn, finding and following guiding stars in design, taking risks on your main themes, and much more.

Strixhaven Study Abroad on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/stx-study-abroad?view=primer

Mark on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5f9c4f3e9b11040fd151a093

Mark is on Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/fourdeltavictor.bsky.social

Mark is @mark.restrepo on DiscordEmail the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

Can you have too much of a good thing? This week, Spence says the answer is probably "no" if you're talking about the most powerful flower ever printed. Spence guides us through 100 Black Lotuses, a wildly powerful, unique spin on cubes with an abundance of one card. We discuss breaking singleton to provide more accessible answers, finding balance in an incredibly powerful environment, how many Lotuses you should have in your deck, and much more.

100 Black Lotuses on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/about/100Lotus?view=primer

Spence on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/user/view/636af803a4cfe00f6bea44c4

Spence on Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/poisoneddonut.bsky.social

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, the legendary Nick Floyd teaches us how to Fish! Nick is the designer of Forgetful Fish (Dandân), Rock Paper Scissors, and a wealth of other rule-bending Magic variants. There's a lot to explore, so make sure to check out the design doc (linked below) for more ways to play. We discuss building toward what's interesting, balancing discovery and refinement, how Nick has made his mark on Magic: the Gathering, and much more.

Nick's complete list of Variants and rules: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mazINq5xarND70aq3nB3CabDcHr_pM_KjokM6CaF5WY/edit?tab=t.0

Check out Nick's Magic and Dandân-related stories (Danecdotes) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkJaAxbrIqymnT7sSEqHRsw

Nick's Variant-focused Discord channel: https://discord.gg/TMVcweYpEmail the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Brandon graciously connects with me all the way from Scotland. Brandon is a writer, cube designer, event organizer, Old School and Premodern aficionado, and an avid enjoyer of old-bordered cube across the globe. We discuss cube being a "net-zero" environment, the value of loving insistence when building community, why you should take your cube on vacation, and much more.

Brandon is u/HD114 on Reddit

Check out more old-bordered cube on Reddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/Oldbordercube/

Rocky Mountain Yeti Dominaria Cantos Cube on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/about/36gu8?view=primer

Faith Before Evidence: Navigating The Layers of Fun in Cube - https://rockymountainyeti.online/2026/05/09/faith-before-evidence-navigating-the-layers-of-fun-in-cube/

Read more of Brandon's articles at the Rocky Mountain Yetis page: https://rockymountainyeti.online/

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

YOU FIGHT FOR HONOR, SOLDIER; FOR THE EMPIRE'S AND YOUR OWN! This week, Gabe guides us through Trenchfight, a white-leaning, de-desert-ed version of Weenies in the Desert where every card is 2 mana value or less. We discuss lessons learned from a cube that was doing a lot, the journey of totally transforming a cube, leaning into the community around you, and much more.

Trenchfight on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/about/Trenchfight

Gabe on CubeCobra: https://www.cubecobra.com/user/view/e7f2b867-924a-4fe9-9837-829156d4e71a

Gabe is @softmaurice on Discord

Check out Gabe's band, Darling on Spotify - their new album Return on Investment is out now!: https://open.spotify.com/album/3ard6pWMOVsXr0R7MSWeOg?si=7WCtcyp9SEKjXhg54woxWw

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week Ryan Overturf and I wax poetic about all facets of cube design and enjoyment, ranging from Twoberts to Mundanity (a new project about everything not exciting in fantasy) to art philosophy. We discuss the joys and challenges of sharing your work, cube as a form of expression, how rest is part of the creative process, and much more.

Listen to more of Ryan on 180 MtG: https://open.spotify.com/show/0E9q00OVjvnOo4V26bOwom?si=270abd0592c4437b

Ryan on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5e88d0f7df3ffb7493f5655c

Ryan on Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/ryanoverdrive.bsky.social

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Trae is our spirit guide through Spirit Guide! In this fascinating landless cube, every card can be exiled for one mana of its color. Welcome to the home of wild card draw, wilder plays, and enough probability to satisfy any statistician. We discuss the journey from a constructed format to a limited format, radical context shifts, how Ancestral Recall may not be good, and much more.

Spirit Guide on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/SpiritGuide?view=primer

Trae on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/6071aa5b00e3ff1066c31ca3

Trae is @trae__ on Discord

Trae's Discord server for funky formats (including Spirit Guide constructed):https://discord.gg/MnU5ypFQ5p

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week Max and Sakari share about their experiences in cube together. From designing a masters set, to curating surprise drafts, to hosting Motticon - a growing cube tournament in their home country of Finland - there's a lot to be encouraged by. We discuss pursuing a re-draftable environment, the value of working together, why you should include Park Map in your next cube project, and much more.

Learn more about Motticon: https://motticon.com/

The Motticon website also has links to the Discord where you can connect with Max about their tournament app!

Sakari's Mono Blue Cube: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/MonoUcube?view=primer

Max's Downward Spiral: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/downward-spiral?view=primer

Three delightful blog posts about designing Premodern Masters:

https://premodernmagic.com/blog/introducing-premodern-masters/

https://premodernmagic.com/blog/designing-premodern-masters/

https://premodernmagic.com/blog/premodern-masters-the-digital-and-physical-experience/

Premodern Masters: https://premodernmasters.com/

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Jay Dragon joins me to talk about game design through the lens of The Magpie's Cube, a whimsical sticker cube that gives players license to create. Jay is the Lead Game Designer at Steve Jackson Games and the Editorial Director at Possum Creek Games. We discuss the power and potential of stickers, the joy of unraveling Magic's grammar, outsmarting games (and being okay with being outsmarted), and much more.

Support Jay on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/possumcreek

Possum Creek Games: https://possumcreekgames.com/

Jay's delightful article on The Magpie's Cube: https://possumcreek.medium.com/the-magpies-cube-54eac20f36fd

Jay on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5ee002664724960f538f6a5f

Jay on bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/jdragsky.bsky.social

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Dan guides us through the wasteland of Mad Max Cube, a crushing desert environment that showcases the brutality of the Mad Max universe. There's precious little Blue, even less Green, and there's no deckbuilding! We discuss embracing your restrictions, drawing inspiration from possibly the worst format ever, how aesthetics shape design, and much more.

Mad Max Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/1t3q2?view=primer

Dan on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5ddebd342e9e9a18f63ae37e

Dan is @danconsiglio on Discord

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Ana welcomes us to The Vintage Cube Retirement Home (aka the Boomer Cube), a resting place for those cards that just can't cut it in the most contemporary Vintage environments. We explore the value of having a thesis, balancing powerful cards in a powerless environment, the joy of every draft being different, and much more.

The Vintage Cube Retirement Home on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/077a945b-f5b0-403c-8900-27bfda429257?view=primer

Ana on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/603c2eb15a1ef3103ba4feb7

Ana is @squiddlyinks on Discord

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Adam takes us on the nickel tour of The Bargain Bin. This project explores the value of building on a budget and what happens when you aggressively break singleton. We discuss cleanliness over complexity, vulnerability around sharing your ideas, intentionality in design and feedback, how cube is like Shrek, and much more.

The Bargain Bin on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/50Cent

Adam on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5f3c056c69d5fd104e8d8f17

Adam's articles on CoolStuffInc: https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/?tagged[]=adam%20melfa

Adam is @adam0013 on Discord

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

You're reading that correctly, this is the original Desert Cube! Andrew (Loxodon_Meyerarch) takes us on a tour of the rainless wasteland of Corince that inspired a whole subgenre of cube design. We discuss inspirations for this historic project, balancing flavor and gameplay, staying true to your own design goals, and much more.

A copy of The Desert Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/2mh?view=primer

The Desert Cube on CubeTutor (through the Wayback Machine): https://web.archive.org/web/20140626041326/https://www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/10432

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com if you'd like to get in touch with Andrew (or with Kade about anything else!)

In this week's cube we're truly spoiled for choice! John guides us through Choose Your Own Adventure, a low-powered synergy cube without Forests in the land box. Will you dig into Burning Vengeance, a different key card, or will you attempt to embrace the green outliers? We explore designing from a web of connections, taking feedback from friends, giving drafters opportunities for ego investment, and much more.

Choose Your Own Adventure on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/choya?view=primer

John on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/2f020741-23b8-4811-8686-87f2ee6162cb

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Heather guides us through HeatherCube, a competitively-focused environment that celebrates 2015 Magic vibes. HeatherCube was featured at Shoebox and was selected by the top 8 contenders to be the final cube of the main event. We discuss 'quest' cards, fun vs. technical perfection, the value of data and stories, and much more.

HeatherCube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/HeatherCube?view=primer

Heather on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/644cc1af-7775-404e-9a57-7df99d067913

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

This week, Kyle (aka vacalicious on Reddit) showcases the "Share Your X" series on Reddit, an annual event-turned-resource he hosts where designers discuss their cube inclusions. We also talk about how his personal cube evolved from the childhood 'Box'. We explore cards you cast right before you lose, how design decisions have consequences, being willing to simply try new things, and much more.

The start of this year's Share Your X thread on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgcube/comments/1qxh85m/announcing_the_2026_share_your_x_series/

Kyle is u/vacalicious on RedditKyle's F'ing Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/KylesFingCube?view=primer

If you want to follow Kyle's non-MtG projects, check out:

Beverage Dynamics: https://bevinfogroup.com/beverage-dynamics/

Stateways: https://bevinfogroup.com/stateways/

Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com